Sofiane Boufal quickly emerges as Le Havre leader after decisive Toulouse win | OneFootball

One month after arriving at Le Havre, Sofiane Boufal has already taken centre stage, decisive for the second match running in Sunday's 2-1 win over Toulouse.

He nutmegged Cristian Casseres then attempted a 50-metre lob that almost dropped in on 23 minutes. He then supplied a precise pass for Issa Soumaré to score the second goal on 53 minutes. Withdrawn on 65 minutes, he had contested 15 duels and made seven recoveries.

Though seeking his first goal since 11 January 2024, his dribbling repeatedly unsettled the opposition.

According to L'Équipe, head coach Didier Digard hailed Boufal's capacity to keep the ball under pressure, lift the crowd and transmit confidence to team-mates, adding that a side needs a player of his level to win. He also praised Boufal's attitude on arrival and said he is convinced there is more to come before the season ends.

His influence has extended off the pitch. After the 0-0 draw at Monaco on 24 January he addressed the dressing room, and against Toulouse he delivered a rallying message straight after the first goal. His warm celebrations with Soumaré on both of the Senegal forward's strikes underlined his standing in the group.

Source: L'Équipe